Elephant Rock and North Bay will reopen to recreational rock lobster potting later this year, as part of a recreational fishing research program being developed for these areas.
These research areas have been closed to all forms of recreational and commercial rock lobster and abalone fishing since 2008 while the impacts of large lobsters on the long-spined sea urchin were examined.
Primary Industries and Water Minister Jo Palmer said the Rockliff Liberal Government will exclusively reopen these areas to recreational potting in December for an initial three years. All other forms of recreational and commercial fishing for rock lobster and abalone in the research areas will continue to be prohibited.
“This reopens these areas to recreational rock lobster potting, which is a win for our fishers and scientists,” Minister Palmer said.
“We know there are greater numbers of rock lobsters and larger rock lobster present in these research areas.
“By giving our recreational fishers controlled access to these areas they can support research into the values of recreational fishing, including the potential merits of recreational-only fishing areas.
“It also provides an opportunity to provide a temporary recreational-only rock lobster area with benefits flowing to local communities.”
Commercial divers can also continue to harvest long-spined sea urchins in Elephant Rock and North Bay.
Consideration of recreational only areas and the need for more socioeconomic research to understand the values of recreational fishing are actions identified in the Tasmanian Recreational Sea Fishing Strategy.
The total area of Elephant Rock is approximately 80 hectares and North Bay is approximately 47 hectares.
